Bagel Briefing
The Bagel Blog
All things bagels, straight from the shop.
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Bagels Near Me? How to Find a Real New York Bagel
Looking for bagels near you? Gotham hand-rolls and kettle-boils New York bagels daily at four Chicago shops, Lake Geneva and Madison. Carryout or delivery.
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Bagel vs. Bread Roll – What’s the Difference and Which Is Better?
Let’s jump into the delicious debate of baked goods: bagels versus bread rolls. Both are breakfast and brunch stars, popping up everywhere from lively cafes to our own cozy kitchens. But what really makes them tick? Is it their shape, texture, or maybe their cultural roots? Let’s dig in!
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Best Bagel Catering Options for Brunch and Corporate Events
Planning your next brunch or corporate event? Bagel catering is a fantastic way to delight your guests! Just imagine a table filled with eye-catching spreads that offer a little something for everyone. At Gotham Bagels, we provide a mouthwatering selection of bagels and homemade cream cheese spreads that’ll leave a lasting impression.
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A Slice with a Hole: The Story of the Pizza Bagel at Gotham
Ask any New Yorker, and they’ll tell you: there are few things more sacred than bagels and pizza. They're the twin pillars of East Coast street fare—handheld, hot, and steeped in tradition. So what happens when these two icons collide? You get the pizza bagel. It’s a mash-up that feels almost too good to be true. And now, for the first time ever, Gotham Bagels is giving it the Gotham treatment.
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Bagel History: Origins and Evolution of the New York Style Bagel
The bagel’s journey begins in 17th-century Poland, where it was created by Jewish communities as a durable and portable food that could be enjoyed on the go. Known as the "beygel," this round bread was boiled before being baked, a process that gave it a dense, chewy interior and a glossy, crisp crust. The bagel quickly became a staple in Jewish households and was often associated with celebration and prosperity.
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Bagels & Balance: Debunking Myths, One Bite at a Time
Bagels have a reputation—some good, some bad, and plenty that’s just plain wrong. Are they too carb-heavy? Are they just empty calories? Should they only be eaten in the morning? These are the kinds of bagel myths we hear all the time.
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Fun and Creative Ways to Customize Your Gotham Bagel
At Gotham Bagels, we believe that creativity in the kitchen is just as important as tradition. While we’re known for our signature bagel creations, we want to remind you that the real magic happens when you make your bagel your own. Whether you're a regular or a first-time visitor, there are endless ways to mix and match our ingredients to create a bagel experience that's uniquely yours. Let’s dive into some fun and creative ways to customize your Gotham Bagel!
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Creative Leftovers: Reinventing Your Day-Old Bagels
Welcome back to The Bagel Blog! At Gotham Bagels, we believe in making the most out of every single bagel, even the day-olds. While there’s nothing quite like a fresh bagel, day-old bagels hold a charm of their own, perfect for crafting delicious, inventive dishes.
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Bagel Breakfast Creative Ideas at Home
Eight ways to dress up a Gotham bagel at home, from lox with capers and dill to French toast egg bagels, plus how to set up a DIY bagel bar for guests.
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Arugula vs. Everything Else
Arugula is a superior green that offers a variety of health benefits, a unique flavor profile, and versatility in cooking. And need we mention it’s amazing on a bagel sandwich?
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The Scoop on Cream Cheese Flavors
Going to the bagel shop can be an exercise in decision-making under pressure. What flavor of cream cheese should I get? is a tormenting question when faced with heaping displays of no less than 100 flavors of cream cheese. Why are there so many options?!
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Surprising Facts about Black & White Cookies
Imagine you walk into a deli–anywhere, not just New York City—and look at the display. Among the many arresting things that greet your eyes are those classic black and white cookies. Sticking out like some sort of sugary street sign with their contrasty yin-and-yang message: eat me and experience the duality of man!
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Are Bagels Healthy?
Are you really looking for a yes or no answer to this question? You won’t find one. The relationship between health and diet is an infinite web. What does healthy mean? Looking for an answer on what to eat is almost an information overload. While our answer is ultimately yes, bagels are healthy, you have to come to your own conclusions—you can’t just Google it. That being said, let’s highlight a few things that might inform your opinion.
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The Perfect Latte
If we asked you to describe the perfect latte right now, what would you say? How specific could you get? Maybe you don’t really know the breakdown of what goes into the drink you have every day, and maybe that’s a good thing–maybe that’s a testament to how seamlessly it all comes together in the cup. Below are a few key aspects of what makes a supreme latte.
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Egg on a Bagel
How do you like your eggs? On a bagel is the correct answer. You can’t get far in your search for the perfect breakfast without running into eggs or bagels. And together, they magnify each other’s deliciousness to new heights.
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Bagel Catering Guide
So you’ve decided you want bagels at your next get-together. Now what? How much cream cheese should you get? How many bagels? Read our tips and best practices here.
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Breakfast Food is important
You wanna know why breakfast on the go is so important? Fuhgeddaboudit! It's the most important meal of the day, and if you're a New Yorker, you know that means one thing - bagels!
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The Great Tuna Scandal
Tuna is a nutritional goldmine. Its worth in actual gold, however, is a trickier matter. You may have heard about the tuna industry’s legal issues in the news—a huge mess all centered on the price of a can of everyone’s favorite fish.
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Where Did the Dozen Come From?
The dozen, much like the day or the foot, might bother you. Why is it split into twelve? Why not ten? Doesn’t ten make more sense? Bakers everywhere abide by this number (or that mysterious baker’s variant of thirteen)—why?
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Potato Latkes Explained
Is it too much to say that potatoes are an exquisite gift to mankind? Naysayers would disagree only because of the humble appearance. But when it comes to taste
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Support Black Organizations
Although this year’s Black History Month is coming to a close, that doesn't mean we can't continue to support Black organizations within our communities. This Black History Month, we’re highlighting Black organizations in Madison & Chicago, and encourage you to donate to their causes.
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What's up with Frozen Bagels?
As the temperature outside drops, frost is on the brain. Many of us in the Midwest grew up on frozen bagels. While that’s intrinsically tragic… It does make some sense. And frozen bagels can work in a pinch—when you freeze the right product in the right way.
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Deli Pickles Forever
Have you noticed people are divided when it comes to pickles? Some (us) really love them, and some really hate them—it’s never just a non-issue. Regardless of whether you like or dislike them, however, you should definitely respect them.
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All about Tuna Salad
Tuna salad is a delightful combination of ingredients that has stood the test of time. Tuna, mayo, onion, celery, some spice. Classic recipes like this don’t get invented every day. We sincerely hope you cherish the tuna salad.
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If Superheroes Ate Bagel Sandwiches...
A good portion of people that walk through the doors assume Gotham Bagels is some type of batman-themed restaurant. It is not, in fact, a batman-themed restaurant. But if superheroes came in our store, what bagel sandwiches would they eat?
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Why is Sustainable Flour Production Important?
Our bagel shops go through a lot of flour. As we watch the incredible transformation that a bag of flour undergoes, it’s important to consider the effect our use of the stuff has on the planet.
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Hand Rolled Bagels vs. Machine Rolled Bagels
While an essential part of baking is tradition—human hands in dough—there are a few different tools that make the craft more efficient and profitable to bakers. These tools and machines come with varying degrees of acceptance and outrage. The bagel machine, for example, is a controversial one.
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What's So Great about Madison, Wisconsin?
We interrupt your regularly scheduled program for an important announcement: Madison, WI is the best city in the Midwest. In the south-central section of the great state of Wisconsin in between two shimmering lakes there lies a truly unique and spectacular gem of a city.
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All about Poblano Peppers
Are you lost when it comes to chilis? There are quite a few out there, so don’t be embarrassed if you are. However, if there’s a chili pepper that shouldn’t give you trouble, it’s the poblano. These mild, dark green peppers are supremely low key.
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Sourcing from Sustainable Fisheries
With the right processes in place, we can continue to enjoy the seafood we eat and do a better job of taking care of the planet at once!
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What is Fontina Cheese?
Fontina? This one’s probably not a cheese you see every day. But hear us out: fontina cheese is lowkey incredible. Make room on your sandwich for this creamy delight!
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The History of Brunch
If you’re not brunching, what are you really doing? Brunch is one of the best things in life, and it’s been around for over a century. While you probably can guess why it became so popular, do you know where this meal came from?
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What are Heirloom Tomatoes?
Tomato season is upon us! Here at Gotham, heirloom tomatoes are our tomato of choice, sourced locally when they're in season. A lot of us have seen these eye-catching beauties at the farmer market—but do you know what it’s all about?
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We Love Gluten
It might not be trendy, but we believe in gluten. The stretching strands of gluten have been built, worked, and baked for thousands of years by human hands. In short: gluten holds our lives together!
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All about Raisins
Cinnamon raisin bagels are the O.G. sweet flavor. Every bagel shop worth their salt has a basket full of these marbled fruity beauties. Let’s focus on what makes them special—their raisins!
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Is New York Water the Secret to Great Bagels?
If you delve into the canon of bagel lore, there’s no doubt you’ll run into the popular idea that the secret ingredient in a great bagel is the water from New York. Does this bagel-making myth really hold water?
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What is a Whole Wheat Bagel?
When you hear “whole wheat,” what do you think of? Something hearty, nutty, and beautifully brown? Or perhaps you think of healthier options… or maybe even the dreaded bird seed bread comes to mind.
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What are Capers?
Are they beans? Are they seeds? Are they related to olives? The salty bite of capers confuses many. But don’t get it twisted just yet—we’re here to help explain these Mediterranean delights.
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All about Jewish Appetizing
What is “appetizing”? Essentially, it’s bagels and lots of fish. Let’s talk about this Jewish New York tradition!
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What is a Pumpernickel Bagel?
Tall, dark, and handsome! The pumpernickel bagel is the swarthiest of bagel flavors, and (to some) the most mysterious.
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The Art of the Sandwich
From the Earl of Sandwich to the six-point formula of hot, cold, sweet, sour, crunchy and soft: what makes a great sandwich, and how the bagel became one.
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Let's Talk About Cream Cheese
To many of us, bagels couldn’t exist without cream cheese. Bagels and cream cheese are as inseparable as peanut butter and jelly! Let’s take a closer look.
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What's So Great About Plain Bagels?
Plain bagels are not boring! When your bagel is handmade and fresh-baked, they are anything but. Plain bagels contain multitudes.
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The Legendary Bagelmakers of New York
The city that made bagels world famous has had a few twists and turns in its baking history. Bagels are a great example of a New York City tradition that has stood the test of time.
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All About Whitefish
What is whitefish? It’s an extremely versatile fish that holds a permanent place in delis everywhere. But what’s the best way to serve whitefish?
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What is an Asiago Bagel?
Salty, sharp asiago cheese is a fan favorite in the American palate. Learn a little bit more about this classic bagel flavor.
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Bagel Chips Forever
Believe it or not, bagel chips start as bagels! At least, when they’re made the traditional way. Who doesn’t love these crispy snacks?
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The Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Origin Story
The B.E.C. began as a quick breakfast for 1800s factory workers. How it gained cheese, spread to bodegas and bagel shops, and became Gotham's best-seller.
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Are Sweet Bagels Acceptable?
Who’s to decide what bagel flavors are OK? Cinnamon raisin, blueberry, cranberry… Those of us with a sweet tooth gotta eat, too!
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Pastrami, Pastrami, Pastrami
Pastrami is an iconic Jewish deli meat. It’s salty, spicy, and aromatic—and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
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What is a Poppy Seed Bagel?
Where poppy seeds come from, their place in Central European and Jewish baking, what to put on a poppy bagel, and whether one can really fail a drug test.
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Hand-Rolled Bagels
Hand rolling bagels into their iconic ring shape makes all the difference. What makes this traditional technique so special?
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What is Matzo Soup?
What exactly is this delicious deli staple all about? Matzo ball soup is a classic comfort food with a rich history.
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Vegans & Bagels
Most bagels are vegan, but egg, asiago and many store-bought kinds aren't. What to look for, which Gotham flavors qualify, and vegan toppings worth trying.
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Chicago Creation of the Month: The Irving Park
March’s Chicago Creation of the Month sandwich is the Irving Park, created by Rich Jones! Read what this Chicago rapper has to say about his dream bagel.
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What is an Everything Bagel?
Sesame, poppy, dried onion, garlic and salt: what goes into everything seasoning, the bakers who claim to have invented it, and other ways to use it.
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Celebrating Minority Unity During Black History Month
For black history month we’d like to highlight the ways in which the Jewish community and the Black community have come together to fight inequality.
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What is an Egg Bagel?
Do eggs belong in bagel dough? Sure! We’ve got some insider knowledge about how eggs transform a bagel’s taste and texture.
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You Should Take Your Date to the Bagel Shop
Why a bagel shop beats a dinner date: it's casual, cheap, easy to eat, and what someone orders says a lot about them. Plus a few tips to make it go well.
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All about Lox
Lox, smoked salmon, Nova… What is the difference? If you love salmon on your bagel, consider taking a minute to get your terms straight.
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Should I toast my bagel?
Fresh bagels don't need the toaster, but day-old ones do. How a bagel changes as it cools, when toasting helps, and the best way to store and revive one.
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What is a Salt Bagel?
What is a salt bagel and where did it come from? And most importantly—how do I eat one of these salty demons without destroying my mouth?!
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A Brief History of Jewish Delis in Chicago
From the Maxwell Street markets to the neighborhood counter: how Eastern European immigrants built Chicago's Jewish delis, why so many closed, and what's next.
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Bagels in the Windy City
Madison's family-owned bagel shop is now delivering hand-rolled, kettle-boiled New York bagels to downtown Chicago's Gold Coast. Here's the story.
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